US007513759B1
`
`(12)
`
`United States Patent
`Blume
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,513,759 B1
`Apr. 7, 2009
`
`(54) VALVE GUIDE AND SPRING RETAINER
`ASSEMBLES
`
`(76) Inventor: George H. Blume, 107 Morning Cloud
`Cove, Austin, TX (US) 78734
`
`4, 1978 Mittleman .................. 137,102
`4,084.606 A *
`4,508,133. A * 4, 1985 Hamid ..........
`... 137/68.22
`4,771,801 A * 9/1988 Crump et al. ..
`... 137/68.26
`6,264,441 B1
`7/2001 Marioni ................... 417/423.1
`2002, 0096,217 A1* 7, 2002 Wu et al. ............... 137,543.19
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 676 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/125,282
`
`k .
`cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Devon C Kramer
`Assistant Examiner Dnyanesh Kasture
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Dennis W. Gilstad
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 10/613,295,
`filed on Jul. 3, 2003
`Pat. No. 6910,871
`ed. On Jul. 3,
`, now Fal. No. o.91 U.S / 1.
`(51) Int. Cl
`(2006.01)
`Four 53MIt
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........ r 417/568; 417/454; 137/512
`(58) Field of Classification Search .......
`417/567 569,
`417/571, 454, 415; 137/4544, 512
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2,257.417 A * 9/1941 Kelley ..................... 123, 1933
`
`Tapered valve guide and Spring retainer assemblies are
`described for use in plunger pump housings that incorporate
`corresponding outwardly flared discharge and Suction bores,
`as well as structural features for stress-relief. Plunger pumps
`so constructed are relatively resistant to fatigue failure
`because of stress reductions, and they may incorporate a
`variety of valve styles, including top and lower stem-guided
`valves and crow-foot-guided valves, in easily-maintained
`configurations. Besides forming a part of valve guide and
`spring retainer assemblies, side spacers may be shaped and
`dimensioned to improve Volumetric efficiency of the pumps
`in which they are used.
`
`6 Claims, 22 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
`(Section B-B)
`
`Vulcan
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`Page 1 of 30
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 7, 2009
`
`Sheet 1 of 22
`
`US 7,513,759 B1
`
`Flanged Access Bore Plug
`Access Bore Plug Retainer
`Discharge Bore Plug Retainer
`Discharge Bore Plug
`N N S Gland Nut
`N Packing
`/4S Packing Brass
`NT y
`N N s S
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Power End
`
`Stay Rod
`
`SN NSE
`RS s s
`S. 2 44//
`N2,444
`KEN,N ESS -
`SNES ESN
`
`V al V e
`Seat
`Suction Valve Retainer Cage
`
`Valve Spring
`Fluid End Bulkhead
`Power End Bulkhead
`
`Typical Fluid Section
`Figure 1
`
`Vulcan
`Ex. 1023
`Page 2 of 30
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 7, 2009
`Apr. 7, 2009
`
`Sheet 2 of 22
`Sheet 2 of 22
`
`US 7,513,759 B1
`US 7,513,759 B1
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`Triplex Fluid Section Housing
`Figure 2
`Figure 2
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`
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`Page 3 of 30
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 7, 2009
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`Sheet 3 of 22
`
`US 7,513,759 B1
`
`90° Cross Bore Centerline for Discharge & Suction Valves
`
`Plunger Bore
`Centerline
`
`Access Bore
`Centerline
`
`
`
`Area of Intersecting Bores
`High Stress Areas
`
`Conventional Plunger Pump Housing
`Figure 3
`
`Vulcan
`Ex. 1023
`Page 4 of 30
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 7, 2009
`
`Sheet 4 of 22
`
`US 7,513,759 B1
`US 7,513,759 B1
`
`
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`120° Bore Centerline for Discharge Valve
`
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`Plunger Bore
`Centerline
`
`Area of Intersecting Bores
`High Stress Areas
`
`120° Bore Centerline
`for Suction Valve
`
`Y-Block Plunger Pump Housing
`
`Figure 4
`
`Vulcan
`Ex. 1023
`Page 5 of 30
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 7, 2009
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`Sheet 5 of 22
`
`US 7,513,759 B1
`
`Discharge Bore Plug Retainer
`
`Discharge Bore Plug
`
`
`
`
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`
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`Plunger Clamp
`21
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`N site/ rosshead Extension
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`6A2-y2
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`Suction Valve Retainer
`Valve Spring
`A Valve
`Seat
`
`Fluid End Bulkhead
`
`Suction Valve? Seat
`Threaded Retainer
`
`Power End Bulkhead
`
`Y-Block Fluid Section
`Figure 5
`
`Vulcan
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`Page 6 of 30
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 7, 2009
`Apr. 7, 2009
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`Sheet 6 of 22
`Sheet 6 of 22
`
`US 7,513,759 B1
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`Figure 6
`
`Vulcan
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 7, 2009
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`Sheet 7 of 22
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`US 7,513,759 B1
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`
`Vulcan
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 7, 2009
`Apr. 7, 2009
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`Sheet 8 of 22
`Sheet 8 of 22
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`US 7,513,759 B1
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`544
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`
`Vulcan
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 7, 2009
`Apr. 7, 2009
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`Sheet 9 of 22
`Sheet 9 of 22
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`US 7,513,759 B1
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`Vulcan
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`Page 10 of 30
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 7, 2009
`Apr. 7, 2009
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`Sheet 10 of 22
`Sheet 10 of 22
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`US 7,513,759 B1
`US 7,513,759 B1
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`Vulcan
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 7, 2009
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`Sheet 11 of 22
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`US 7,513,759 B1
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`Vulcan
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 7, 2009
`Apr. 7, 2009
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`Sheet 12 of 22
`Sheet 12 of 22
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`US 7,513,759 B1
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`Vulcan
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 7, 2009
`Apr. 7, 2009
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`Sheet 13 of 22
`Sheet 13 of 22
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`US 7,513,759 B1
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`Vulcan
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 7, 2009
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`Sheet 14 of 22
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`US 7,513,759 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 7, 2009
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`Sheet 15 of 22
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`Vulcan
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`Apr. 7, 2009
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`Sheet 16 of 22
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`US 7,513,759 B1
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`
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`(Section B-B of Figure 11A)
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`Sheet 17 of 22
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`US 7,513,759 B1
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`
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`Vulcan
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`Sheet 18 of 22
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`US 7,513,759 B1
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`
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`Figure 13A
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`Figure 13C
`
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`Figure 13D
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`Vulcan
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`Sheet 19 of 22
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`US 7,513,759 B1
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`
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`Figure 14C
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`Sheet 20 of 22
`Sheet 20 of 22
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`US 7,513,759 B1
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`Vulcan
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`Sheet 21 of 22
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`US 7,513,759 B1
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`930'
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`Figure 16C
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`Vulcan
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`Sheet 22 of 22
`Sheet 22 of 22
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`US 7,513,759 B1
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`US 7,513,759 B1
`
`1.
`VALVE GUIDE AND SPRING RETANER
`ASSEMBLES
`
`This is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patent applica
`tion Ser. No. 10/613,295 filed Jul. 3, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No.
`6,910,871 (hereinafter the 295 application).
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention relates generally to high-pressure plunger
`pumps used, for example, in oil field operations. More par
`ticularly, the invention relates to valve guides and spring
`retainers for use in plunger pump housings that incorporate
`structural features for stress-relief and for accommodating
`valve guide and/or spring retainer assemblies.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`2
`operation, which would leave the plunger packing easily
`accessible from the proximal end of the plunger bore, is
`impossible in a Y-block design.
`Thus the Y-block configuration, while reducing stress in
`plunger pump housings relative to earlier designs, is associ
`ated with significant disadvantages. However, new high pres
`Sure plunger pump housings that provide both improved
`internal access and Superior stress reduction are described in
`U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,623,259, 6,544,012 and 6,382,940, which are
`incorporated herein by reference. One embodiment of a right
`angular plunger pump Such as that described in U.S. Pat. No.
`6,623,259 (hereinafter the 259 patent) is schematically illus
`trated in FIG. 6. It includes a right-angular plunger pump
`housing comprising a Suction valve bore (Suction bore), dis
`charge valve bore (discharge bore), plunger bore and access
`bore. The Suction and discharge bores each have a portion
`with Substantially circular cross-sections for accommodat
`ing, e.g., a valve seat. Note that the illustrated portions of the
`Suction and discharge bores that accommodate a valve seat
`are slightly conical to facilitate Substantially leak-proof and
`secure placement of each valve seat in the pump housing (e.g.,
`by press-fitting a valve seat that has an interference fit with the
`pump housing). Less commonly, the portions of Suction and
`discharge bores intended to accommodate a valve seat are
`cylindrical instead of being slightly conical. Further, each
`bore (i.e., Suction, discharge, access and plunger bores) com
`prises a transition area which interfaces with other bore tran
`sition areas.
`The plunger bore of the right-angular plunger pump hous
`ing of FIG. 6 comprises a plunger bore having a proximal
`packing area (i.e., an area relatively nearer the power section)
`and a distal transition area (i.e., an area relatively more distant
`from the power section). Between the packing and transition
`areas is a right circular cylindrical area for accommodating a
`plunger. The transition area of the plunger bore facilitates
`interfaces with analogous transition areas of other bores as
`noted above.
`Each bore transition area of the right-angular pump hous
`ing of FIG. 6 has a stress-reducing feature comprising an
`elongated (e.g., elliptical or oblong) cross-section that is Sub
`stantially perpendicular to each respective bore’s longitudi
`nal axis. Intersections of the bore transition areas are cham
`fered, the chamfers comprising additional stress-reducing
`features. Further, the long axis of each Such elongated cross
`section is Substantially perpendicular to a plane that contains,
`or is parallel to, the longitudinal axes of the Suction, dis
`charge, access and plunger bores.
`An elongated Suction bore transition area, as described in
`the 259 patent, can simplify certain plunger pump housing
`structural features needed for installation of a suction valve.
`Specifically, the valve spring retainer of a Suction valve
`installed in Such a plunger pump housing does not require a
`retainerarm projecting from the housing. Nordo threads have
`to be cut in the housing to position the retainer that secures the
`Suction valve seat. Benefits arising from the absence of a
`Suction valve spring retainer arm include stress reduction in
`the plunger pump housing and simplified machining require
`ments. Further, the absence of threads associated with a suc
`tion valve seat retainer in the suction bore eliminates the
`stress-concentrating effects that would otherwise be associ
`ated with such threads.
`Threads can be eliminated from the suction bore if the
`Suction valve seat is inserted via the access bore and the
`Suction bore transition area and press-fit into place as
`described in the 259 patent. Following this, the suction valve
`body can also be inserted via the access bore and the Suction
`bore transition area. Finally, a valve spring is inserted via the
`
`Engineers typically design high-pressure oil field plunger
`pumps in two sections; the (proximal) power section and the
`(distal) fluid section. The power section usually comprises a
`crankshaft, reduction gears, bearings, connecting rods, cross
`heads, crosshead extension rods, etc. Commonly used fluid
`sections usually comprise a plunger pump housing having a
`Suction valve in a Suction bore, a discharge valve in a dis
`charge bore, an access bore, and a plunger in a plunger bore,
`plus high-pressure seals, retainers, etc. FIG. 1 is a cross
`sectional Schematic view of a typical fluid section showing its
`connection to a power section by stay rods. A plurality of fluid
`sections similar to that illustrated in FIG.1 may be combined,
`as Suggested in the Triplex fluid section housing schemati
`cally illustrated in FIG. 2.
`Valve terminology varies according to the industry (e.g.,
`pipeline or oil field service) in which the valve is used. In
`Some applications, the term “valve' means just the moving
`element or valve body. In the present application, however,
`the term “valve' includes other components in addition to the
`valve body (e.g., various valve guides to control the motion of
`the valve body, the valve seat, and/or one or more valve
`springs that tend to hold the valve closed, with the valve body
`reversibly sealed against the valve seat).
`Each individual bore in a plunger pump housing is subject
`to fatigue due to alternating high and low pressures which
`occur with each stroke of the plunger cycle. Conventional
`plunger pump housings typically fail due to fatigue cracks in
`one of the areas defined by the intersecting Suction, plunger,
`access and discharge bores as Schematically illustrated in
`FIG. 3.
`To reduce the likelihood of fatigue cracking in the high
`pressure plunger pump housings described above, a Y-block
`housing design has been proposed. The Y-block design,
`which is schematically illustrated in FIG. 4, reduces stress
`concentrations in a plunger pump housing Such as that shown
`in FIG.3 by increasing the angles of bore intersections above
`90°. In the illustrated example of FIG.4, the bore intersection
`angles are approximately 120°. A more complete cross-sec
`tional view of a Y-block plunger pump fluid section is sche
`matically illustrated in FIG. 5.
`Although several variations of the Y-block design have
`been evaluated, none have become commercially Successful
`for several reasons. One reason is that mechanics find field
`maintenance on Y-block fluid sections difficult. For example,
`replacement of plungers and/or plunger packing is signifi
`cantly more complicated in Y-block designs than in the earlier
`designs represented by FIG. 1. In the earlier designs, provi
`sion is made to push the plunger distally through the plunger
`bore and out through an access bore (see, e.g., FIG. 3). This
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`access bore and the Suction bore transition area and held in
`place by a similarly-inserted oblong Suction valve spring
`retainer, an example of which is described in the 259 patent.
`Note that the 259 patent illustrates an oblong suction valve
`spring retainer having a guide hole (for a top-stem-guided
`valve body), as well as an oblong Suction valve spring retainer
`without a guide hole (for a crow-foot-guided valve body).
`Both of these oblong suction valve spring retainer embodi
`ments are secured in a pump housing of the 259 patent by
`clamping about an oblong lip, the lip being a structural feature
`of the housing (see FIG. 6 for a schematic illustration of
`oblong lip 266 in a right angular plunger pump housing).
`The 259 patent also shows how discharge valves can be
`mounted in the fluid end of a high-pressure pump incorporat
`ing positive displacement pistons or plungers. For well Ser
`Vice applications both Suction and discharge valves typically
`incorporate a traditional full open seat design with each valve
`body having integral crow-foot guides. This design has been
`adapted for the high pressures and repetitive impact loading
`of the valve body and valve seat that are seen in well service.
`However, stem-guided valves with full open seats could also
`be considered for well service because they offer better flow
`characteristics than traditional crow-foot-guided valves. But
`in a full open seat configuration stem-guided valves may have
`guide stems on both sides of the valve body (i.e., “top” and
`“lower guide stems) or only on one side of the valve body
`(e.g., as in top stem guided valves) to maintain proper align
`ment of the valve body with the valve seat during opening and
`closing. Conventional valve designs incorporating secure
`placement of guides for both top and lower valve guide stems
`have been associated with complex components and difficult
`maintenance.
`The 295 application, of which the present application is a
`continuation-in-part, describes alternative methods and appa
`ratus related to valve stem guide and spring retainer assem
`blies and to plunger pump housings in which they are used.
`Typically, Such plunger pump housings incorporate one or
`more of the stress-relief structural features described herein,
`plus one or more additional structural features associated
`with use of alternative valve stem guide and spring retainer
`assemblies in the housings. Such plunger pump housings do
`not, however, comprise an oblong lip (see, e.g., structure 266
`in FIG. 6 as noted above) for securing a Suction valve spring
`retainer. The absence of this oblong lip simplifies machining
`of the plunger pump housing, and the corresponding design
`results in reduced stress within the pump housing.
`Illustrated embodiments in the 295 application of valve
`stem guide and spring retainer assemblies include, for
`example, a combination comprising a discharge valve lower
`stem guide (DVLSG), plus a Suction valve top stem guide and
`spring retainer (SVTSG-SR), plus spacers for spacing the
`DVLSG apredetermined distance apart from the SVTSG-SR.
`Alternative embodiments comprise other combinations of
`structural features such as, for example, spring retainers and
`spacers with or without associated valve guides. Note that due
`to the close fit of the DVLSG within the discharge bore and of
`the SVTSG-SR within the suction bore, insertion or removal
`of these structures requires maintaining precise alignment as
`to rotation and angle of entry with their respective bores. Such
`precise alignment may be difficult to maintain during field
`service operations.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention includes improved valve guide and
`spring retainer assemblies for use in plunger pump housings
`having an outwardly flared transition area in the Suction bore.
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`Alternative valve guide and spring retainer assemblies of the
`present invention are for use in plunger pump housings hav
`ing an outwardly flared transition area in the discharge bore as
`well as the suction bore. Note that an outwardly flared tran
`sition area in the Suction bore (together with an outwardly
`flared transition area in the discharge bore in alternative
`embodiments) allows relatively easier insertion and removal
`of portions of improved valve guides and spring retainer
`assemblies in these areas.
`When intended for use in a plunger pump housing having
`an outwardly flared transition area in both the suction and
`discharge bores (together with a suction valve having a top
`guide stem and a discharge valve having a top guide stem and
`a lower guide stem), an embodiment of an improved valve
`guide and spring retainer assembly of the present invention
`comprises a tapered suction valve top stem guide and spring
`retainer (hereinafter an SVTSG-SR-II), as well as a tapered
`discharge valve lower stem guide (hereinafter DVLSG-II),
`together with at least one side spacer. In Such an embodiment,
`each side spacer contacts the DVLSG-II (along a discharge
`lateral alignment lip) and the SVTSG-SR-II (along an oppos
`ing Suction lateral alignment lip) to transmit the Suction valve
`spring force acting on the SVTSG-SR-II to a shoulder in the
`discharge bore. The DVLSG-II simultaneously acts as a guide
`for the discharge valve lower guide stem.
`To transmit the Suction valve spring force as described
`above, the side spacer(s) must be free to move laterally (i.e.,
`vertical movement toward the discharge bore as shown in the
`illustrated embodiments) during installation of opposing Suc
`tion and discharge valves in a pump housing. Such lateral side
`spacer movement ends on contact of the DVLSG-II with the
`discharge bore shoulder; this contact being maintained there
`after by the compressive force of the Suction valve spring as
`transmitted to the DVLSG-II via the side spacer(s). During
`lateral side spacer movement, longitudinal movement of each
`side spacer is limited by the access bore plug on one end of the
`spacer and by a plungerbore shoulder on the opposite end. To
`permit the required free lateral side spacer movement, Suffi
`cient longitudinal clearance is provided for each side spacer
`during installation of opposing Suction and discharge valves
`in the pump housing to prevent the side spacer ends from
`binding on either the access bore plug or the plunger bore
`shoulder. Note that each side spacer may comprise at least one
`insertion ramp to ease its insertion between a DVLSG-II and
`an opposing SVTSG-SR-II (i.e., along a discharge lateral
`alignment lip and an opposing Suction lateral alignment lip).
`In an alternative embodiment of an improved valve guide
`and spring retainer assembly of the present invention
`intended for use in a plunger pump housing having an out
`wardly flared transition area in both the Suction and discharge
`bores (together with a suction valve having a top guide stem
`and a discharge valve having a top guide stem but no lower
`guide stem), the DVLSG-II may be replaced with a tapered
`discharge bore spacer (hereinafter a TDBS), which functions
`with at least one side spacer to transmit the Suction valve
`spring force acting on the SVTSG-SR-II to a shoulder in the
`discharge bore. Provision is made for lateral spacer move
`ment and longitudinal spacer clearance during installation of
`opposing Suction and discharge valves as described above.
`When intended for use in a plunger pump housing having
`an outwardly flared transition area only in the suction bore
`(together with a Suction valve having a top guide stem and a
`discharge valve having a top guide stem but no lower guide
`stem), an alternative embodiment of the improved valve guide
`and spring retainer assembly of the present invention com
`prises an SVTSG-SR-II together with a side spacer-plug. A
`side spacer plug comprises a flanged access bore plug having
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`at least one integral side spacer. In Such an embodiment, the
`side spacer(s) function to transmit the spring force of the
`SVTSG-SR-II to a shoulder in the access bore via the flanged
`access bore plug (with which the side spacer(s) are integral).
`The access bore plug flange is maintained in contact with the
`access bore shoulder by an access bore plug retainer. Note
`that in this embodiment each side spacer has a first edge for
`insertion along one suction lateral alignment lip. Addition
`ally, no side spacer experiences significant longitudinal or
`lateral movement when transmitting the Suction valve spring
`force to the access bore shoulder. Thus there is no need for a
`plunger bore shoulder to limit longitudinal side spacer move
`ment. Further, each side spacer first edge may comprise an
`insertion ramp to ease insertion along a Suction lateral align
`ment lip.
`Field maintenance is facilitated for pumps incorporating
`the plunger pump housings and improved valve guide and
`spring retainer assemblies of the present invention. Specifi
`cally, the requirement for maintaining precise alignment as to
`rotation and angle of entry during insertion and removal of the
`DVLSG-II, the TDBS and/or the SVTSG-SR-II is relaxed.
`Additionally, one or more O-rings on an SVTSG-SR-II, a
`DVLSG-II or a TDBS can assist in retaining these structures
`temporarily in their respective outwardly flared bore transi
`tion areas during pump assembly. And O-rings on an SVTSG
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`SR-II have a self-centering function that makes the use of
`top-stem-guided Suction valves more efficient and practical.
`As described herein, the present invention comprises
`improved valve guide and spring retainer assemblies for use
`with Suction valves having top guide stems. These Suction
`valves may additionally have lower guide stems, though Such
`valves are relatively difficult to maintain because access to the
`lower Suction valve stem guide usually requires removal of
`the Suction manifold. On the other hand, access to Suction
`valve top stem guides and discharge valve lower stem guides
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`may be achieved via the access bore as described herein. And
`access to a discharge valve top stem guide may typically be
`achieved simply by removing a discharge bore plug retainer
`and discharge bore plug.
`Plunger pump housings of the present invention comprise
`Substantially right-angular housings having Substantially in
`line (i.e., opposing) Suction and discharge bores, plus Sub
`stantially in-line (i.e., opposing) plunger and access bores,
`plus high pressure seals, retainers, etc. not otherwise called
`out. Where indicated as being colinear and/or coplanar, bore
`centerlines (or longitudinal axes) may vary somewhat from
`these precise conditions, due for example to manufacturing
`tolerances, while still Substantially reflecting advantageous
`structural features of the present invention. The occurrence of
`Such variations in certain manufacturing practices means that
`plunger pump housing embodiments of the present invention
`may vary somewhat from a precise right-angular configura
`tion. Such plunger pump housings Substantially reflect advan
`tageous structural features of the present invention notwith
`standing angles between the centerlines or longitudinal axes
`of adjacent bores that are within a range from approximately
`85 degrees to approximately 95 degrees. Where the lines
`and/or axes forming the sides of such an angle to be measured
`are not precisely coplanar, the angle measurement is conve
`niently approximated using projections of the indicated lines
`and/or axes on a single plane in which the projected angle to
`be approximated is maximized.
`In illustrated plunger pump housings of the present inven
`tion the suction bore transition area is outwardly flared as
`described above, while the discharge bore transition area may
`or may not be outwardly flared. One illustrated embodiment
`of a plunger pump housing of the present invention comprises
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`a Suction bore comprising a first portion having Substantially
`circular cross-sections and a first centerline for accommodat
`ing, e.g., a circular Suction valve seat, followed by a second
`portion having elongated cross-sections. The Suction bore
`second portion comprises in general a cylindrical area having
`elongated cross-sections followed by an outwardly flared
`transition area having elongated cross-sections. The cylindri
`cal area is not flared and may have Zero length (i.e., the
`cylindrical area may be eliminated) in alternative embodi
`ments, while the outwardly flared transition area has a first
`predetermined outward taper that facilitates insertion,
`removal and self-centering of a SVTSG-SR-II. There is a
`suction bore shoulder between the first and second portions of
`the suction bore.
`One illustrated embodiment of a plunger pump housing of
`the present invention also comprises a discharge bore com
`prising a first portion with Substantially circular cross-sec
`tions and a second centerline for accommodating, e.g., a
`circular discharge valve seat, followed by a second portion. A
`discharge bore shoulder is located between the first and sec
`ond portions. The discharge bore second portion comprises,
`in general, a cylindrical area (i.e., an area that is not flared)
`extending from the discharge bore shoulder and having elon
`gated cross-sections, followed by an outwardly flared transi
`tion area having elongated cross-sections. The cylindrical
`area may have Zero length (i.e., may be eliminated) in alter
`native embodiments, while the outwardly flared transition
`area has a second predetermined outward taper that facilitates
`insertion, removal and self-centering of a DVLSG-II or a
`TDBS). Note that the first and second centerlines are colinear.
`An alternative illustrated embodiment of a plunger pump
`housing of the present invention comprises a discharge bore
`comprising a portion with Substantially circular cross-sec
`tions and a second centerline for accommodating, e.g., a
`circular discharge valve seat, followed by a transition area
`that is not necessarily outwardly flared. Note that the first and
`second centerlines are colinear, and that a discharge bore
`shoulder may be either present or absent. If the discharge bore
`shoulder is absent in this embodiment, stress in the pump
`housing is thereby reduced.
`All illustrated embodiments of a plunger pump housing of
`the present invention comprise a plunger bore comprising a
`proximal packing area and a distal transition area, the packing
`area having Substantially circular cross-sections and a third
`centerline. The third centerline is coplanar with the first and
`second centerlines. An alternative illustrated embodiment of
`a plunger pump housing of the present invention comprises,
`in addition to these features, a plunger bore shoulder between
`the proximal plungerbore packing area and the distal plunger
`bore transition area.
`Illustrated embodiments of plunger pump housings of the
`present invention further comprise an access bore comprising
`a distal retainer portion with Substantially circular cross-sec
`tions and a fourth center line. The distal retainer portion
`accommodates an access bore plug retainer and is followed
`by a proximal transition area having elongated cross-sections
`that can be sealed with a removable (flanged or flangeless)
`access bore plug. An access bore shoulder is located between
`the distal retainer portion and the proximal transition area.
`Removal of the access bore plug facilitates access to interior
`portions of the plunger pump housing. The access bore proxi
`mal transition area may be cylindrical or, in alternative
`embodiments, it may be inwardly flared (i.e., the proximal
`transition area may have a first predetermined inward taper
`extending from the access bore shoulder). Removal and
`replacement of an access bore plug having a peripheral
`inward taper corresponding to the first predetermined inward
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`taper of Such an access bore transition area is easier than
`performing these operations with a cylindrical access bore
`plug in a cylindrical access bore transition area. However,
`maintenance of precise alignment as to rotation and angle of
`entry or removal of Such a cylindrical access bore plug can
`still be achieved during routine maintenance because of the
`relativ